Settlement of agri insurance claims delayed

Settlement of agriculture insurance claims in 13 states and Union territories has been delayed due to the failure of respective governments in releasing Rs 150.85 crore in the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS).

The states and union territories are Assam, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Puducherry, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Andman & Nicobar, Chhatisgarh, Karnataka and Tripura. The Centre has now asked these governments to release the fund to enable settlement without any further delay the finance ministry said. Meanwhile, Agriculture Insurance Co of India Ltd has settled claims worth Rs 846.78 crore from farmers in Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, under NAIS.